Masu Wood‑grain Guinomi Sake Cup with Coaster

A set of Masu (wooden measuring cup) sake cups, and coaster by Odate Kougeisha.

Masu were originally used as lightweight cups for measuring rice, soy sauce, and sake. The wood used for Masu is Japanese cedar and Hinoki cypress, which are deeply associated with Shinto rituals and shrines, and the word "Masu" means "increase" and "benefit" in Japanese, so they were considered good luck items and came to be used as sake cups.

The bottom coaster serves as a saucer. Even if you pour a lot of sake into a Masu sake cup, the sake will not spill on the table. The bottom of the Masu sake cup is grooved in the shape of a lattice. There is no risk of sticking to the coaster.

It is a traditional handicraft designated by the national government that utilizes the uniform and beautiful grain of Akita cedar. It is a masterpiece of craftsmanship with a bright and elegant texture, lightweight, yet strong and resilient. 

Odate Kougeisha

Odate Kougeisha is one of the oldest makers of magewappa—traditional Japanese wood-bending crafts. Originating from Odate City, Akita Prefecture, magewappa has a history of 1,300 years. The magewappa crafts of Odate Kougeisha are carefully made with time and care, shaped one-by-one by craftspeople using traditional techniques that have been unchanged for generations.

Odate magewappa is a Japanese wood-bending technique that has been carried on in Odate City, Akita Prefecture for 1,300 years. In the late 17th century, it developed as a side job for the lower class samurai of downtown Odate Castle. In 1980, Odate's magewappa was officially designated as a traditional Japanese craft, the only kind to receive this distinction among all magewappa crafts in Japan.